Owls & Other Creatures of Minnesota

Most of our adventures are international, but on the Owls & Other Creatures of Minnesota trip, we travel to the polar region of the USA, in search of multiple species of owls, birds and other animals such as the Pine Marten. This is a custom trip based on our clients wants, needs and aspirations to photograph. A sample itinerary is below. This best time for this trip is January through early March. If you have interest, please contact us.

Days 1 & 2: Arrive to MSP airport for pickup, then depending on time, we will start our journey in the Twin Cities area – We will search around the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul as we look for Northern saw-whet owls, long eared owls, eastern screech owls, and we will keep our eyes peeled for bald eagles and great horned owls.

Day 3: We venture north to the area of Twin Harbors and Duluth as we look for more species of owls. This day we will focus on great grey owls, snowy owls and boreal owls. We may even swing by Betty’s Pies for a world famous slice (or two or three) of pie.

Days 4-7: We depart the Duluth area and make our way to the birding hot spot of Sax Zim Bog. Sax-Zim Bog, located in northern Minnesota, is a world-renowned birding destination, especially famous for its winter birdwatching. The bog’s mix of boreal forest, wetlands, and open meadows provides a habitat for rare species like the great gray owl, boreal chickadee, black-backed woodpecker, and northern hawk owl. Birders and nature lovers visit year-round, but the winter months are particularly popular for spotting elusive northern species. Another species that we commonly see is the not-so-common

American pine marten, with its slender body, bushy tail, and thick, silky fur that ranges from yellowish-brown to dark brown, with a distinctive orange or cream-colored throat patch. Pine martens are excellent climbers and spend much of their time in trees, hunting small mammals, birds, and insects, though they also eat berries and nuts. They thrive in dense, mature forests and are active year-round, even in harsh winter conditions, and we will be on the lookout to observe and photograph this brilliant mammal. We will also be on the lookout for ermines.

Ermines also known as short-tailed weasels or stoats, are small, agile predators and in winter, their fur turns pure white, except for the black tip on their tail, providing excellent camouflage in snowy environments. They are fierce hunters, preying on rodents, birds, and insects, often taking down animals larger than themselves. Ermines are known for their high energy, quick movements, and ability to squeeze through tiny spaces in pursuit of prey.

Day 8: We depart from the Sax Zim Bog area as we look for more owls and creatures on our way back to the MSP airport.

****The itineraries are intended as examples only. Actual itineraries may vary depending upon flights, weather, wildlife habits, contract service providers, logistical decisions of the tour leader and forces beyond our control. Visitors must be prepared to be flexible; schedules may vary depending on conditions.  We also cannot gauruntee owls, but we do our best to find owls and the other creatures that we seek to observe and photograph. We reserve the right to make the final decision.